Chapter 113: You Look Cute

After leaving the hideout, Elias and Benjamin boarded the same carriage that had brought them there. The driver had already returned to his seat, but the moment he noticed the two men approaching, he quickly climbed down and bowed.

"My lord, please wait here for a moment," he said before turning around and hurrying back toward the wooden house.

Elias watched him disappear through the entrance, then glanced at Benjamin, who stood beside him with a troubled expression. Neither of them had to wait long. A few minutes later, the driver returned after obtaining Olide’s permission, and the two men entered the carriage.

Once the carriage began moving, Benjamin sat opposite Elias and folded his hands over his knees. He remained silent for several moments, though the uneasiness in his eyes continued to grow until he finally leaned forward.

"My lord," he began carefully, "about the monster corpses and the Riftstone you promised to sell Lord Olide..."

"Do not speak about it," Elias interrupted, his voice calm but firm.

Benjamin blinked, then lowered his voice further. "But, my lord, how do you intend to—"

"I said not to speak about it," Elias repeated, turning his gaze toward the window.

Benjamin immediately fell silent. He could tell from Elias’s expression that his master had no intention of explaining anything, and although countless questions remained in his mind, he decided not to press him further.

Outside, the streets of Kilmir passed beneath the fading light of evening.

Elias watched the streets without much interest.

’If everything proceeds as planned, I would be able to secure enough supplies to sustain the household for some time.’

However, he could not ignore the possibility that Olide might inform Berlic about the transaction.

That possibility did not concern him as much as it once would have.

By now, Elias had begun to understand that remaining passive would not protect him. The situation in Kilmir was deteriorating with every passing day, and waiting for the danger to disappear would only leave him and his wives trapped inside a city that was becoming increasingly hostile.

The carriage continued through the streets until the manor finally came into view.

The driver stopped near the gates, and Elias stepped down with Benjamin following behind him. After the two men had moved away, the driver climbed back onto his seat and quickly departed, leaving the manor behind.

Elias did not waste any time. Instead of entering the main residence, he walked past the gates and turned toward the unused building standing in the left corner of the garden.

The entire estate contained several structures, but only two of them were regularly used: the manor itself and the storehouse. The remaining buildings had long been neglected, and this particular one had become little more than an empty shell.

Benjamin hurried after his master, his brows furrowing as he tried to understand the sudden change in direction.

"My lord, what is on your mind?" he asked.

Elias did not answer until he reached the building’s entrance. He then glanced at the lock hanging from the door and pointed toward it.

"Open it."

Benjamin nodded and stepped forward without hesitation. He took out the key, inserted it into the lock, and turned it.

A sharp click echoed through the place, and he pushed the door inward.

A spacious hall appeared beyond the entrance, but it was empty.

Dust covered the floor, while thick spider webs stretched across the corners of the walls and ceiling. The air smelled stale, and the faint light entering through the windows revealed countless particles drifting through the room.

Elias looked around for a moment before nodding.

"This would do," he mumbled, then turned toward Benjamin. "Have this place cleaned."

Benjamin nodded, although the confusion in his eyes only deepened.

"Yes, my lord."

Elias did not offer any further explanation. He turned away from the building and began walking toward the main manor, leaving Benjamin behind to stare at the empty hall.

At first, Elias had intended to remain cautious and avoid doing anything that might attract unnecessary attention. However, the circumstances had become more troublesome with every passing day, and he could no longer afford to act as though patience alone would solve everything.

Even if Olide informed Berlic about the transaction, and the City Lord used his authority to complicate matters further, Elias could simply store the purchased resources and the gold he received inside his Inventory. As long as he managed to complete the exchange, Berlic’s interference would accomplish little.

A sharp glint flashed through Elias’s eyes, and the corners of his lips rose slightly as he imagined the expression on Berlic’s face if the merchant’s goods and payment suddenly vanished from the city.

The thought amused him enough that his steps became lighter.

When he entered the main hall, his gaze immediately fell upon Natasha. She was sitting on a chair near the staircase, staring into the space with her usual impassive expression.

A smile appeared on Elias’s face as he approached her. He stopped a few steps away, and Natasha shifted her gaze toward him with a faint frown.

She looked around for her notebook and quill, but neither was nearby.

Elias found her confusion amusing. He stepped closer and offered his hand.

[It must be in our room.]

Natasha glanced at his hand, then nodded and accepted it.

The two of them walked upstairs together and entered Elias’s room. There, Natasha found the notebook and quill lying beside Stella, who was sleeping soundly across the bed.

She carefully picked them up, opened the notebook, and wrote a short question before turning it toward Elias.

Where did you go?

Elias read the words and answered through Mental Whisper.

[To meet a merchant.]

Natasha’s eyes brightened with understanding. Elias had already told the three women about the closure of the city gates, the killer roaming through Kilmir, and his intention to acquire resources before the situation worsened.

She lowered the notebook, apparently having nothing else to ask.

Elias, however, continued staring at her with an amused smile.

Natasha ignored him at first, but when his gaze remained fixed upon her, she slowly furrowed her brows and wrote another question. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

What?

Without thinking, Elias raised his hand and gently touched her face. His thumb moved across the lower part of her cheek, and Natasha glanced toward his hand but did not pull away.

[You look cute,] he said.

Natasha stared at him as though she could not believe that he had been watching her for such a simple reason. A faint blush gradually spread across her cheeks, but before Elias could notice it, she quickly moved away and sat on the bed with her eyes closed.

Elias chuckled softly and shook his head.

He did not know when Olide would arrive, so there was no reason to neglect his usual responsibilities. Until the merchant came, he could continue taking care of his wives as he always did.

’I have been giving her less and less time...’ he remarked inwardly as he turned away from the bed and began walking toward Monica’s room.